Do you use lipstick or lipgloss? Did you know you're putting bugs on your lips?
By prettyruby
@prettyruby (350)
United States
October 19, 2011 1:13am CST
Did you know that any makeup with a red or pink coloring is almost guaranteed to have been made with bugs? The insect cochineal makes a chemical called carminic acid, which is used by makeup manufacturers to create a red dye. So basically, the manufacturers of this dye buy a bunch of bugs, mash them into a pulp, and then filter out the bug parts from the carminic acid. The dye then goes into your lipstick and lipgloss! Most makeup companies know that this is pretty gross, so instead they label the dyes as "Red #", but if you do some digging online, you can find out if your makeup contains these insects.
Personally, I think it's pretty gross...but I still use makeup anyways! I just try not to think about it - after all, it's not going to make me sick, just grossed out.
What about you? Did you know that your lipstick and lipgloss were made with bugs? How do you feel now that you know?
1 person likes this
17 responses
@veronizm (907)
• Philippines
27 Oct 11
Hi prettyruby! I didn't know about that. And now that I know, well, I don't really care and I'm not even grossed out 
A lot of products are made from nature (and other weird ingredients) but that doesn't mean that it's unsafe, it's science and of course we just don't make things out of thin air. I'm pretty sure the carminic acid (aka Carmine/Crimson Lake/Natural Red) are safe to use otherwise women around the world have swelling lips, heheheh! 
It's even used in food as food coloring. (http://www.cas.org/motw/carminicacid.html)
What is unsafe though is Lead. I've read about lipsticks containing lead and this could poison the body. To know that your brand of lipstick contains lead, swipe your lipstick unto your skin and rub a gold jewelry (ring) over it. If it turns black then it has lead in it. 
A lot of products are made from nature (and other weird ingredients) but that doesn't mean that it's unsafe, it's science and of course we just don't make things out of thin air. I'm pretty sure the carminic acid (aka Carmine/Crimson Lake/Natural Red) are safe to use otherwise women around the world have swelling lips, heheheh! It's even used in food as food coloring. (http://www.cas.org/motw/carminicacid.html)
What is unsafe though is Lead. I've read about lipsticks containing lead and this could poison the body. To know that your brand of lipstick contains lead, swipe your lipstick unto your skin and rub a gold jewelry (ring) over it. If it turns black then it has lead in it. 1 person likes this
@veronizm (907)
• Philippines
5 Jan 12
Oh I didn't about lead in eye shadows. Thanks for telling me! I like putting make-up on my face especially eye shadows, like those colorful ones. Now I'm really going to religiously read those labels to see if the eye shadows have lead in them before I buy them 
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
5 Jan 12
That's very true - just because it's gross or weird doesn't mean that it's dangerous. Have you heard of those lip glosses that 'plump' your lips? They use some sort of pepper to make your lips swell up @_@
I agree, lead is definitely the real danger. I didn't know that trick! Thanks for telling me. Be careful with eyeshadows (or basically anything with colored pigment) too - a lot of those lower quality products also have lead in them.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
5 Jan 12
If you switch to vegetarian or vegan products, they probably tint their products with minerals or plants instead of bugs! They're usually more expensive though :(
@twallace (2675)
• United States
19 Oct 11
Now you know when I read this I was like oh man. Cause I don't like makeup at all. This is something to find out that lipstick color comes from bugs. Now if they use that for red and pink then it would mean that goes for all of the colors that they use. Even in the lip gloss which I do use. Not read though brown instead, I'm not really a red person or pink either. Those colors look funny on me. Then it makes me think that what else are they using bugs or other things for to make lipstick. Or to make other makeup for that matter.
I'm glad that I'm not into makeup like that and you know when you think about it. There are other thing that you don't know about that we use everyday that have things in it that you would not have know about unless someone told you about it.
@twallace (2675)
• United States
23 Oct 11
IF they could take the factor of beauty out of makeup no one would wear it at all. It would be a loosing market and no money would be make. But for the fact that they have makeup as one of the main reasons that people buy it. It would not even matter what it's made off. That is the same way that the food is in the store. The things that they were made of and how they were grown. When people use to have there own gardens and grew there own veggies. Now they don't even think about farming like that. I'm glad that I'm not one of those that where make up like that cause I would really have some skin problems with all of the stuff that they have out there on the market.
Sadly there are things that we should be careful of and yet society As long as they don't have to be the one that has to make the product.
1 person likes this
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Although I'm not really too worried about cochineal, it seems pretty safe, it is kind of gross and makes you wonder what other things are in your cosmetics or personal care products. The things that are in your body wash and soaps can be really surprising!
I don't really know what they use for other colors in makeup but do be careful about the presence of lead in your lip gloss. A lot of makeup companies use small amounts of it in the coloring (I guess it makes the colors more vibrant?).
@couchPotato100 (94)
•
20 Oct 11
Wow! good to know that makeup contain bug juice. Good thing I'm not a big user of makeup, that is really gross. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.
@couchPotato100 (94)
•
23 Oct 11
Lolz you are very informative.
It's Still Gross! but I guess bug juice is better then chemical.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Haha, don't think you're in the clear though even if you don't use makeup. Cochineal is also found in almost every food dye that is red or pink! If you drink grapefruit juice from a bottle (not necessarily from the carton), then you should check the ingredients next time and see if they colored it. Any cookies or ice cream that looks pink or red is probably also dyed with cochineal!
@sreekutty (1051)
• India
27 Oct 11
Oh Oh, yuck, pooh! yow. Get me? I will never use one again. OMG, why cant they make natural dye lipstick like with beetroot or some food color.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
5 Jan 12
If you find products that say vegetarian or vegan, I would guess that they only use plants and not bugs! Not sure though...I just try not to think about it haha.
@7thspring (233)
• Philippines
19 Oct 11
Wow! It's good to know.
But even if the chemicals are from bugs, companies that make these cosmetics make sure that they've already cleaned it. Maybe even sterilized them, with absence of bacteria and harmful organisms.
I did not feel any disgust upon reading this. I'm a fan of lip balm, lip gloss and lipsticks. I just feel amazed what science and research have come up with to give us the luxuries we're enjoying now.
I'm not afraid of "carminic" acid. It's the lead content of lipstick that we should be afraid of. Because lead is toxic.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Sounds great to hear someone mirror my own thoughts. The chemicals derived from cochineal are most likely quite sterile, and I'm definitely more worried about lead in my lipstick than potential microscopic bug parts. I just have to not think about those potential microscope bug parts.
@7thspring (233)
• Philippines
2 Nov 11
Cool! Yeah as long as the lipstick looks pretty on you, no need to worry about those! And plus, bugs are edible just not palatable. Icky!
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
20 Oct 11
Yep heard of it. Personally it doesn't bother me - I would think that it would probably bother the bugs more if it was them wearing humans in their ... should I say lips? hehe just because we're so big and all :)
I personally thinK that for a race designed to evolve and survive, we tend to be grossed out too much, but that's just me LOL
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
LOL this is true. We get so easily grossed out these days...how did we ever survive to this point?! But, maybe it's like this - I like makeup too much to give it up so I just choose to not remember that I'm putting bug parts on my lips. Selective memory is the way to go :P
@Bianca_mergillano (1067)
• Philippines
20 Oct 11
Oh my! Good thing you shared it. Its cool to know. Haha. I can't believe it. I used to put lipstick on my lips whenever I put some make up on. I can't get over. I can't imagine I have bugs on my lips. Haha. But anyway its okay. I don't hate insects. Its not so gross for me. I just feel pity for those bugs that is killed just to make lipstick for us. Haha. But there's nothing we could do. We use lipstick to enhance our beauty and putting make up on will not be complete without lipstick.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Haha, it's true! Your look isn't complete without a swipe of lipstick or lip gloss. When I found out about cochineal, I also started wondering what else was in our makeup...
I still think it's kind of gross though. But not gross enough to stop using makeup haha.
@r3jcorp (1382)
• Philippines
20 Oct 11
I did not even bother to find out what lipstick is made of, maybe a lot girls also did'nt. I am not a frequent user of lipstick or any other make up. Maybe because it is not required in my work and I am always in a hurry. Anyway, bugs is much better than if it is made of chemicals which could cause Cancer.
@sexyice (873)
• Latvia
19 Oct 11
I use lipgloss, because I like shine on my lips 
Sometimes we get know of the something made and then we are shocked. But if you get know of the are made all what you use... then you can't speak. Because in cosmetics included very much different substances, chemicals, animal parts...
I read in internet how bad things we eat and use, so don't be shocked, because you don't know with what you shower and what you eat.
You know, that with conservative you can make fish taste like raspberry cake???
Sometimes we get know of the something made and then we are shocked. But if you get know of the are made all what you use... then you can't speak. Because in cosmetics included very much different substances, chemicals, animal parts...
I read in internet how bad things we eat and use, so don't be shocked, because you don't know with what you shower and what you eat.
You know, that with conservative you can make fish taste like raspberry cake???
@flowerfest08 (1677)
•
19 Oct 11
wow that's gross, but I will still use lipstick and lip gloss. anyway I wont see that bug when I'm applying my lipstick, just this time maybe I wont lick my lips anymore when I have lipstick and lip gloss on.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Very true! You just have to not think about it. And maybe not lick your lips.
@Triple0 (1904)
• Australia
19 Oct 11
Really now? 
Right now I'm imagining a whole bunch of bugs squished against my lips But that's really gross! I heard from someone that lipstick was made out of horse fat, that's why the texture seems a little slippery and shiny. But who knew lipstick was made out of crushed insects! I don't wear lipstick so I'm fine. I usually just put on some moisturizer or Vaseline if my lips are chapped but I rarely wear lipstick. I'm going to tell my friends now and gross them out! Thanks for sharing, sometimes learning something new may really help, even if you just learnt that lipstick is actually made of little crushed insects!
Right now I'm imagining a whole bunch of bugs squished against my lips But that's really gross! I heard from someone that lipstick was made out of horse fat, that's why the texture seems a little slippery and shiny. But who knew lipstick was made out of crushed insects! I don't wear lipstick so I'm fine. I usually just put on some moisturizer or Vaseline if my lips are chapped but I rarely wear lipstick. I'm going to tell my friends now and gross them out! Thanks for sharing, sometimes learning something new may really help, even if you just learnt that lipstick is actually made of little crushed insects! @prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Well, lipstick may very well be made of horse fat (I know it's made of fat - just not what kind!). But, the color is made from little crushed insects.
It's not a health hazard as far as I know, but it is really gross to think about! You should share your friends' reactions haha.
@rollylolly (2843)
• India
19 Oct 11
I use Nivea strawberry lip balm everyday . I use lipstick and gloss not often . Thanks for the information . I think such information should be known to the consumers . The choice then rests on them whether they prefer to use it or not .
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
I agree. Although, I don't actually care too much about the use of cochineal, people should know what their products are made from!
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Haha that's a good outlook to have. Lip gloss most likely has the same components as lipstick for its dyes.
And that's true. It's so processed that it probably doesn't even matter anymore!
@butterscotsh (1012)
• Philippines
5 Apr 12
I didn't know that, but now that I know. I don't really care that much.
I can't really imagine lipsticks coming from bugs, whenever I see a lipstick,
I cannot think of bugs. It feels impossible. But if it's really true,
I don't feel gross at all. I don't know why.
@prettyruby (350)
• United States
21 Oct 11
The red or pink coloring in lip gloss most likely does come from cochineal. But, like you, I don't really care. It's not like it's harmful.
I'm more worried about lead in my lip gloss!
